Articulator for making artificial dentures



Oct. 14, 1952 A. P. MURRAY ETAL 2,613,440

ARTICULATOR FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL DENTURES Filed March 20, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 l8 INVENTOR.

. A? PJWa rray By O/fvenZZ Barf/ 6/ @cfi, M, 3%? A. P. MURRAY ET AL 2,613,440

ARTICULATOR FOR MAKING ARTIFICIAL DENTURES I Filed March 20v 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Oct. 14, 1952' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AimooLAToa -rzftligg g ARTIFICML Addie-P. Murray and Oliver 12:. Barthel, Detroit, Mich.

.Applicati'on March 20, 1950 Serial N0. 150,642

1.0- G laitns.

1 lfhis invention'relates-t'o 'dental appliances-and, inpa'rticular, to articul'ato'rs 'for making artificial dentures.

One object of this inventioni'sto provide an improved'articulator by which the artificial teeth maybe fitted into artificial dentures "in an accurate and'precise manner so 'that'they will o'ccupy the proper positions when fitted into the wearers mouth and proper biting or occlusion will be obtained.

Another object is to provide an improvedarticulator "for making artificial dentures wherein the castslmadefromlimpressions of the upper and lower .jawsof the wearer may be placed in the articulator in the same relative positions that the jaws occupy in the wearers head.

Another object is to provide an improved articulator for making artificial dentures wherein thevar-ious parts of the articulator may be moved relatively. .to one another and the amount of such motion indicated on accurate scales whereby the articulator may always be accurately reset to its previous position by the use of these scales.

f iii the drawings Figured is a central vertical'section, partly in side elevation, of an improved articulator according to a preferred form of the invention; taken along -the-line l-| in Figure2;

'FigureZ -is a=horizontal section through the articulator, taken-along the line 2-2 in Figure *1 Figure 3 is a top 131 an viewofith'e upper portion of the articulator shown in Figure '1.;.

Figure "4 iis-a fragmentary front elevation of part of the central portion of the" articulator shown in, Figure 1, showing one of the scales for indicatingldeviations of the settingof the machine from a setting assumedasazero setting;

Figure-5 is anapproximately horizontalsection taken along 'theline -5 5 inFigure 1; v

"Figure dis a horizontalse'ctiontaken along-"the line "546 in Figure '1;

Figure *1 is a horizontal section "taken along the line 1-4 in" Figure "1"; and

' Figures" is a vertical sectiontaken a'lon'gthe line 8--'8 in 'Figure 3.

Referring 'to the drawingsin-detail, Figures '1 and 2 show an improved articulator; generally designated-laaccording to the preferred form-of the invention as mounted upon a 'base' H havinga downwardly-extending flange -l2-with holes 13 therein bywhi'ch itmay be secured to a table T :by means of suitable fasteners (not :shown) The-central portion of the base 'H is provided with a boss 14 whichis bored and threaded'as 'at l5 to receive the threaded-upper-portion of "a clamping member'l 6 by which the base-l-l-may be removably clamped to the table T instead of by using the fasteners'through the holes 13.

The base =1! is of approximately rectangular orsquareshapeand is provided at its corners-with bosses H which are bored and threaded as at 18 to receive the lower ends of posts 19, the oppositeends of which are oppositely-threaded; the portion 2%, forexample, being a right-hand thread and the portion 2| thereof a left-hand thread. The posts 19 are preferably provided with hexagonal-or other polygonal portions 2-2 by which they may -be rotated for adjustment purposes.

The upper ends of the posts [8 are threaded into threaded bores 23 in bosses 24 at the four corners-of an approximately square platform 25. The "platform 25 is provided with a central boss 26 which is-provid-ed with a central bore 21-and an undercut counterbore 28, the lower end of which is threaded as at 2'9 and closed bya screw plug 30 having a central aperture 3! therein'of substantially the "same diameter as the bore2'l. The'plug 30 is bored and threaded as at 3'2"t'o receive'aclamping screw 33 having an operating handle 34* projecting radially therefrom by which the clamping screw 33 may be rotated in the threaded'bore 32. Mounted in the space hetweenjthe plug 3B and the shoulder 35"at the upper end of the counterbore 28 is the'annularly flanged portion 36 of a central support-31 having a vertical boss 38 which is bored as at 39 to "receive a vertical rod 30 of square crosssection (Figur'eZ) having graduations 41 thereon according to a suitable system of measurement; such as inches or millimeters. The rod is held in position by a clamping screw 42' which is threaded through a threaded bored? in the boss 38 and engages the rod lil' either directly or through a cushioning plug of softer metal which'p'revents the'defacement of the rod 40;

The flanged portion 36' is 'of"disc-like form and'the external diameter of the boss 38 is sufficie'ntly less than the internal diameter of the bores 21 and 3| to .per'iiiita certain amount of lateral sliding motion between the central "support {land the platform 25. Inorder tomeasure' deviations from a prearranged zero positie'n'of these parts, a cross-shaped measuring poihter'fi lf is centrallybored with a square bore as at'45jto fit upon the correspondingly squared portion '46 at the upper end'of the boss 38. Each arm 41 of the pointer 44 is provided with graduations 48 on the beveledend thereof adapted to 'align with graduations 49 on a plate'ill whichfi's secured-as by the screws 5I to the platform 25. The graduation plate 59 is likewise provided with a central aperture 5i similar in diameter to the apertures 27 and 3I previously described. The graduations 48 (Figure 2) may, if desired, be inscribed according to the Vernier system to permit measurement readings to be accurately made according to subdivisions of the graduations 49. The platform at its rearward side is provided with a sight aperture 52.

In order to measure the deviations of the central support 31 from its zero position, other than by the pointers 41 and scales 48, 49, micrometer devices generally designated 53 and 54 are provided with their axes at right angles to one another. Each of the micrometer devices 53 and 54 is identical in construction to the other, hence a single description suifices for both and similar parts are similarly designated. The micrometer device 53 or 54 (Figure 1) consists of a tubular stem or sleeve 55 which is inserted in a bore 56 from which a counterbore 51 extends horizontally through to the bore 28. A microm eter screw spindle 59, having the usual screwthreaded portion 59 threaded into a correspondingly threaded bore 69 in the stem 55, engages the edge of the flanged portion 36 of the central support 37. Beyond the threaded portion 59 the'spindle 58 is secured as at 69a in a bore BI in the end wall of a thimble 92. The stem 55 and thimble 92 have cooperating graduations 63 and 64 respectively (Figure 2).

The rod 40 above the pointer 44 (Figure 1) is provided with a shoulder portion 65 upon which rests the bottom wall 66 of an outer shell I 61 having a partially sphericalportion 68. Fitting into the spherical portion 63 of the shell 61 is a corresponding partially spherical inner shell 99 which extends downward from a lower east support 19. The latter has a central boss II with a spherical socket I2 formed therein and receiving the spherical ball I3 mounted on the upper end of the rod 49. A retaining ring I4 secured by fasteners I5 to the boss II has a corresponding partially spherical surface 16 forming a continuation of the partially spherical socket I2. Secured as by the screws I! to the upper surface of the lower support I0 (Figure 1) is a lower disc or base plate I8 having a pair of elongated apertures "I9 therein and a bridge portion 89 extending diametrically between them,

the construction being generally similar to that of the upper disc shown in Figure 3 and described below. As will be seen in connection with the operation of the invention, the lower base plate I8 on the lower support I9 receives the lower cast or model L of the lower jaw and gum of the patient or wearer.

In order to enable the lower support "III to be tilted and clamped relatively to the shell 61, four knurled clamping screws III (Figure l) are threaded at intervals of through washers 82 and enlarged holes 89 in the shell 61 into threaded holes 84 in the inner shell 69 (Figures 1 and 5). In Figure 5 only two of the four clamping screws 8I have been completely shown, the uppermost screw being omitted in order to show the threading in the hole 84. In order to indicate the amount of tilt, the spherical shell 91 is provided with rectangular windows 85 (Figures 4 and 5) through which graduations 86 on the inner shell 69 are visible and alignable with graduations 8'I along one edge of the window 85.

Near its rearward edge the platform 25 is provided with an upwardly extending boss 98 which is bored as at 89- to receive the lower end of an 4 upright rod 99 held therein by the nut 9! threaded upon the lower end thereof. The rod 99 throughout the upper portion of its length is of trapezoidal cross-section (Figures 2, 3, 6 and '7) and is provided with a longitudinal groove 92 which is adapted to receive the end of a clamping screw 93 threaded through a bore 94 (Figure 6) in an approximately C-shaped lower bracket 95. The latter partly encircles the rod 99 and closely fits it. Secured to the bracket 95 and extending laterally from it on both sides is a cross arm 96 having paired outer and inner indentations 91 and 98 respectively. The indentations 91 and 98 serve to receive the pointed ends of the arms or calipers used in adjusting the instrument, as described further in connection with the operation.

Mounted above the bracket 95 is an upper bracket 99 (Figure 7) having a clamping screw I99 threaded into a bore I9I, so as to engage the bottom wall of the groove 92. The upper bracket 99 is of similar construction to the bracket 95. Mounted on the rod 99 above the upper bracket 99 is a top bracket I99 which consists of an arm I9I fitted to the rod 99 (Figure 3) and having a retaining plate I92 secured as at I93 thereto. The retaining plate I92 is provided with a boss I94 (Figure 1) having a threaded bore I95 into which is threaded a clamping screw I99, the end of which engages the bottom of the groove 9|. The arm IOI terminates in a boss I97 of rectangular outline to the underside of which is secured a boss I98 mounted on the rearward edge of a plate or upper support I09. Locating pins II9 are provided to properly locate the bosses I91 and I98 relatively to one another so that the plate I99 may be taken off and replaced in the same position. A threaded stud III secured in the boss I98 and passing through a bore H2 in the boss I9! is surmounted by a wing nut II3 for clamping the bosses I91 and I09 together.

The plate I99 is provided with approximately semi-circular apertures II4 (Figure 3) separated by a diametrical bridge portion H5. The bridge portion H5 is recessed slightly as at II6 to receive a knurled thumb nut II! the lower end of which is reduced in diameter and enters a hole II8 extending downward through the plate I99 from. the recessed portion II6 (Figure 1). The disc I99 is also bored and threaded as at II9 to receive a locating screw I20. Secured to the underside of the plate I99 is an upper disc I2I having a radial slot I22 therein (Figure 3) for receiving the head of the locating screw I29. The upper disc I2I, like the lower disc I8, is likewise provided with elongated apertures I23 separated by a bridge portion I24. The latter contains a central hole I25 through which a screw I26 is inserted upward, passing through the hole IIB into the threaded bore I21 in the thumb nut III. In this manner, the upper disc I2I receives and supports the upper cast U of the patients jaw and is, in turn, supported by the plate I99.

In addition to the upper and lower casts or models U and L, Figure 1 in chain lines shows the upper and lower denture plates P and P on which the teeth are to be mounted in the patient's mouth; also upper and lower bite rims R and R of wax or other similar material as described below, and-the so-called horseshoe plates H and H attached to the bite rims R and R.

aura-44o Operation When the-articulator is installed andprior to using it, the platform, 25 thereof is accurately adjusted to a truly horizontal position by adjusting the screw posts I9 while using a spirit level.

' In the operation of the invention, a wax'impression of the space between the pat-ients gums of the upper and lower jaws is taken in the usual way and with the usual wax-like material. This wax impression, which gives the contour of the upper and lower gums and the space'between them, is then removed from the, mouth, placed in a moldand plaster-.of-Paris poured in above and below it 'to make the upper and'lower plastic casts of the upper and lower jaw and gum contours. The casts or models arethen mounted on their respective Tdi'scsor'base plates '1'8 and I2'I and thesemounted onth'e'l-ower and upper supports "I0 and I09 as shownl in Figure '1. 'The' object now is to place the casts or models L and U'in e'xactly'the same relative positionsa'nd separations that the laws and gumsof which they are facsimiles occupied in the mouth o'f'the patient at the tim the wax impression was taken from which the casts or models were made. "If this conditionis obtained, then central occlusion of the teeth will likewise be obtained and the patientwill be able to bite properly with histeeth.

'The platform 25 and upper plate I09 are now leveled with the air of a spirit level by adjusting the posts I9'and all of the scales of the articulator are set at zero. Thejplate I0 is then also lev-' eled by means of a spirit levelso that the plates I09'and I0 are parallel to the p1atform'25. The

upper plate I09 is now adjusted upward or downward by means of the bracket I00 and clamping screw I06 on the rod 90 until the'upper cast 'Ui's the same distance from the lower east L that the upper and lower'gums' were separated at the time'the waximpressionwas taken from which the casts 'U and L were made. Let it b assumed also that the usual upper and lower plates on which the teeth areto bemounted have'been prepared in 'a conventional manner; Thei'object'is now to get the teethiinserted correctly-and lined up properly so "as to provide prope occlusion when they are placed inth'e' mouth. i v

'To dothis, the operator mountsthe upper and lower plates P and P" on the upper and lower casts U'and Landthen'forms orbuilds up bite rims of wax'on the plates so mounted in theiarticulator. I-Ie first puts a ridgeof wax 'on the lower plate? to approximately the correct height of the teeth to be placed thereon, then superimposesahorseshoe plate (not shown) on the wax rim and levels upthe horseshoe plate by a spirit level with its upper surface located midway .be twe'enthe'ridges on the upper and lower plates P and P. The horseshoe plate has downwardly projecting pins which pierce the wax and hold the-horseshoe plate inposit-ion.

The operator now placesa similar upper horseshoe plate upon the lower horseshoe plate, with its-pin projecting upward, and meltswa'x upon it to fill'up the space'between the upper horseshoe plate and the upperplate'P, the wax adherin to the pins on th upper horseshoe plate. The operator then raises the upper plate I09'by loosening the clamp screw I06, leaving the bracket 99 tightly clamped in place by means of the clamping screw I00, so as to be able to-use it as a stop in replacing theupp-erplate I09 in its former position. v

Withthe upper and lower plates I09-and "I0 thus separated the operator removes the-wax bite rims with the horseshoe plates andtooth plates attached, and places the upper assembly thereof in the mouth, fitting over the upper-gum. He then places on the lower horseshoe plate a layer of a very soft compound such as is used to take mouth impressions and places the lowerassembly of the tooth plate, wax-bite rim and'lower horseshoe plate in the mouth. Th patient is then directed to reregister his gums to re-establish the centric relationship thereof. Without moving'the relative positions of the upper and lower assemblies after such centric'relationship has been established, the compound is allowedito set.

Thereupon the entire combination of-theupp'er and lower assemblies is removed from themouth and placed on theupp'er cast U in its stillcraised position. The upper arm IOI is then loweredx'so that the combined assemblies. approach .theflow-er cast L. However, thelower tooth plate.P' will notnow fitover the lower'cast L because it has moved intoa shifted positio-nby reason of being placed in the patients mouth. 'lhelayerofimpress'ion compound between the two horseshoe plates indicates the actual error at this time 'rbee tween the true perpendicular as it existsinthe head of the patient and the true perpendicular as it exists in the articulator as originally adjusted, with all its scales reading zero and with its various supports leveled by the spirit level.

The operator now loosens up the clamping screws 33 and M and moves th central support, 3! to and fro, measuring its motion by theimicrometer devices 53 and 54, and tilts the inner shell 69 relatively to the outer shell 68 (Figurel), measuring its tilt on the scales '86 and 8! (Figures 4 and 5) until the lower plate P fits down;a-'c-. curately over the lower east L as th combined assemblies, still attached to the upper cast U,.are lowered upon the lower cast L. Whenan accurate fit is obtained, the various clamp-ing screws 8| and 33 are tightened to lock the articulator. The operator then takes the readings of all of the scales. He then lifts th upper arm IM and :removes the combined assemblies from their'gposition between the casts U and L. I

The operator now takes half the differencebetween the original scale readings and the readjusted scale readings, and resets the scales on the lower arm or supporting structure of the articulator to those half readings. He now mounts the combined or double assembly (consisting of the upper tooth plate, the upper bite rim, the upper horseshoe plate, the layer of impression compound, the lower horseshoe plate, the lower. bite rim and the lower tooth plate) on the lower cast and knocks the upper cast U off the upper mounting plate or disc I2 I, and registers the cast on the upper base plate. He then runs plasterof-Paris into the space between the upper cast and the upper mounting plate IZI, which takes up the upper half of the error,'of which the lower half has previously been absorbed by the settings of the scales described above. This procedure divides the compound angle of error between the versal joint mounted on said slide, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, an upper dental cast support movably mounted on said upright, and measuring devices associated with said lower cast support for indicating the displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position.

2. An articulator for making artificial dentures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a laterally and longitudinally movable slide mounted on said base, a post including a universal joint mounted on said slide to be vertically slidable relative to said slide, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, an upper dental cast support movably mounted on said upright, and measuring devices associated with said lower cast support for indicating the displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position.

3. An articulator for making artificial dentures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in vertically-spaced relationship therewith, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially flat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture, means for urging said slide into engagement with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower east support for indicating the linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower cast support.

4. An articulator for making artificial dentures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in vertically-spaced relationship therewith, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially flat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture, means for urging said slide into engagement with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower cast support for indicating the linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower cast support, said slide having a vertical bore therethrough and said post vertically slidably engaging said bore.

5. An articulator for making artificial dentures comp-rising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in vertically-spaced relationship therewith, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially fiat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture, means for urging said slide into engagement with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower cast support for indicating the linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower east support, said guide surface restricting the freedom of motion of said slide to horizontal directions, said slide being freely movable horizontally in lateral, longitudinal and oblique directions relatively to said predetermined zero position.

6. An articulator for making artificial dentures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in vertically-spaced relationship therewith, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially flat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture. means for urging said slide into engagement with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a, lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower cast support for indicating th linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower east support, said slide having contact surfaces on the sides thereof and said measuring devices including micrometer screw measuring instruments mounted on said platform in engagement with said contact surfaces.

7. An articulator for making artificial den-- tures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in vertically-spaced relationshi therewith, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially fiat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture, means for urging said slide into engagement with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower cast support for indicating the linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower cast support, said slide having a substantially annular side contact surface, and said measuring devices including micrometer screw measuring instruments mounted on said platform in engagement with said contact surface.

8. An articulator for making artificial dentures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in vertically-spaced relationshi therewith, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially flat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture,

means for urging said slide into engagement with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower east support for indicating the linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower cast support, said measuring devices including a graduated cross-shaped member connected to and movable with said slide and said platform having measuring indicia registering with the graduations of said cross-shaped memher.

9. An articulator for making artificial dentures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in vertically-spaced relationship therewith, spaced levelling screws mounted on said platform and engaging said base, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially flat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture, means for urging said slide into engageemnt with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower east support for indicating the linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower east support.

10. An articulator for making artificial dentures comprising a base, an upright mounted on said base, a platform mounted on said base in 10 vertically-spaced relationship therewith, said platform having an aperture therethrough and a substantially flat horizontal guide surface disposed adjacent said aperture, a slide extending across said aperture and slidably engaging said guide surface, a post of smaller cross dimension than said aperture mounted on said slide and projecting upwardly through said aperture, means for urging said slide into engagement with said guide surface, a universal joint mounted on said post, a lower dental cast support rockably mounted on said universal joint, measuring devices associated with said lower cast support for indicating the linear and angular displacement thereof from a predetermined zero position, said measuring devices including a pair of hollow nesting partially spherical shells disposed concentrically with said universal joint and rockable relatively to one another, one of said shells having graduations thereon and the other shell having measuring indicia registering with said graduations, one of said shells being connected to said slide and the other being connected to said lower cast support 10 and rockable therewith, and an upper cast support movably mounted on said upright for travel toward and away from said lower cast support.

ADDIE P. MURRAY. OLIVER E. BARTHEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,654,453 Brown Dec. 27, 1927 1,910,592 Craigo May 23, 1933 2,070,025 Phillips Feb. 9, 1937 2,095,665 Greth Oct. 12, 1937 

